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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 60(3)

Ecosystem science: toward a new paradigm for managing Australia’s inland aquatic ecosystems

Gene E. Likens A L , Keith F. Walker B , Peter E. Davies C , Justin Brookes B , Jon Olley D , William J. Young E , Martin C. Thoms F , P. Sam Lake G , Ben Gawne H , Jenny Davis I , Angela H. Arthington D , Ross Thompson J and Rod L. Oliver K
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York 12545, USA.

B School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

C School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 5, Hobart, Tas. 7000, Australia.

D Australian Rivers Institute, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Brisbane, Qld 4111, Australia.

E CSIRO Land and Water, GPO Box 1666, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

F Riverine Landscapes Research Lab, Environmental Science, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

G School of Biological Sciences, Building 18, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and CRC for Freshwater Ecology, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3800, Australia.

H Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, PO 991, Wodonga, Vic. 3691, Australia.

I School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.

J School of Biological Sciences and Australian Centre for Biodiversity, Building 18, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic. 3800, Australia.

K CSIRO Land and Water, Private Bag No. 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.

L Corresponding author. Email: LikensG@ecostudies.org

Marine and Freshwater Research 60(3) 271-279 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF08188
Submitted: 23 June 2008  Accepted: 23 November 2008   Published: 27 March 2009

Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems are a foundation of our social, cultural, spiritual and economic well being. The degraded condition of many of Australia’s river ecosystems is testament to our failure to manage these resources wisely. Ecosystem science involves the holistic study of complex biophysical systems to understand the drivers that influence ecological pattern and process. Ecosystem science should underpin both water management and policy. Our understanding of aquatic ecosystems lags behind the increasing problems caused by past land and water management. Current post-graduate training programmes will not provide the aquatic ecosystem scientists needed by government and management agencies to prevent further degradation. We advocate new initiatives to capture the skills, knowledge and innovation of our research community by engaging scientists and managers in large-scale, long-term ecosystem science programmes across Australia and to integrate these programmes with community aspirations, policy, planning and management. We call on management agencies to increase their support for and uptake and use of ecosystem science. We also advocate establishment of national archives for long-term ecologically-relevant data and samples, and clear custodial arrangements to protect, update and facilitate knowledge-transfer. These initiatives need to be supported by more extensive, better-funded post-graduate and post-doctoral programmes in ecosystem science and management.

Additional keywords: river ecosystems, educational needs, degraded ecosystems, water-resource management


Acknowledgements

This paper stems from a meeting of this group of authors held in Bungendore, New South Wales, in April 2008. The meeting was convened by G. E. Likens and other authors are listed in random order. The meeting was facilitated by J. Olley. Financial support for the meeting and for a Flagship Fellowship to Likens was provided by CSIRO. We thank two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments.


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